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HEAD  QUARTERS,  CAVALRY  CORPS, 
Beaufort  District,  So.  Ca.,  December  29,  1864. 
GENERAL  ORDERS,  ) 

No.  7.  ) 

I.  The  continued  and  grave  complaints  made  by  citizens  against  this 
command,  require  that  the  most  stringent  efforts  be  used  by  all  officers 
to  prevent  the  slightest  depredations  of  any  character  in  future. 

II.  The  requirements  of  General  Orders,  Nos.  18  and  21,  from  Army 
Head  Quarters,  and  all  General  Orders  from  these  Head  Quarters  rela- 
ting to  discipline  and  depredating  upon  the  property  of  citizens,  will  be 
rigidly  enforced. 

III.  No  officer  or  soldier  -will  be  permittpd  to  enter  a  dwelling  under 
any  pretence  whatever,  unless  invited  by  the  occupant.  Division,  bri- 
gade and  regimental  commanders  will  bivouac  with  their  troops,  and 
with  assistance  of  their  staff  officers  will  see,  by  close  supervision,  that 
no  rails  are  burned,  or  depredations  of  any  character  whatever  com- 
mitted. They  will  see  that  proper  and  regular  issues  of  forage  and 
subsistance  are  made,  and  no  waste  allowed.  To  this  end  they  will 
require  the  most  vigorous  and  energetic  efforts  on  the  part  of  Commissa- 
ries and  Quartermasters  for  the  procurement  of  necessary  supplies. 
When  the  command  is  without  wagons,  every  detail  sent  out  to  pro- 
cure supplies  will  be  under  the  command  of  a  commissioned  officer, 
who  will  be  held  strictly  responsible  for  depredations  committed  by  the 
detail. 

IV.  1st  Each  divisiou  commander  will  select  a  regiment  under  a 
strict  officer,  which  shall  be  used  as  the  Provost  Guard  of  the  division. 
This  regiment  will  be  selected  for  its  general  good  conduct,  and  will  be 
retained  on  this  duty  only  while  its  conduct  is  exemplary.  Division 
Commanders  m:iy,  at  their  option,  detail  men  from  other  regiments  for 
this  du!y  who  they  deem  specially  appropriate  for  that  purpose.  2d. 
When  on  the  march  the  Provost  Guard  shall  be   kept    in  advance,  and 


will  leave  a  guard  at  every  house  on  the  line  of  march  under  a  good 
officer,  which  guard  will  not  suffer  any  soldier  of  this  or  any  other  com 
mand,  to  take  any  species  of  property  whatever  from  the  premises. 
These  guards  will  be  relieved  by  the  Provost  Guard  of  the  division  next 
in  rear.  The  guard  of  the  rear  division  will  remain  on  duty  till  the  rear 
guard  of  the  command  has  passed.  3d.  When  in  camp,  guards  from 
this  regiment  will  be  stationed  at  every  house  within  the  lines  of  the 
division,  of  sufficient  strength  to  protect  the  premises. 

V.  Each  division  commander  will  detail  two  or  more  officers  to  serve 
upon  his  staff,  whose  duty  shall  be  to  follow  in  rear  of  the  command, 
and  visit  every  house  on  the  line  of  march,  and  every  house  from  which 
forage  or  rations  are  procured.  They  will  examine  the  vouchers  given, 
see  that  they  are  of  the  proper  character,  and  take  a  uote  of  every  com- 
plaint made  by  citizens.  These  officers  will  be  required  to  certify  in 
writing,  every  Sunday  morning,  that  this  duty  has  been  fully  complied 
with.  A  complete  record  of  all  complaints  made  by  citizens  will  be 
kept  at  Division  Head  Quarters. 

VI.  1st.  The  brave  officers  and  men  who  for  three  years  have  fought  ■ 
with  me  in  this  sacred  cause,  facing  every  danger,  and  enduring  every 
hardship,  are  not  guilty  of  horse  stealing  and  destroying  property. 
Foul  aspersions  have  been  thrown  upon  you  by  the  conduct  of  a  few 
bad  men,  some  of  whom  may  belong  in  our  ranks,  but  many  of  whom 
falsely  claiming  identity  with  this  command,  hover  around  your  liuc  of 
march,  committing  depredations  in  your  name,  thus  throwing  the  odium 
of  their  bad  conduct  upon  you.  2d  Besides  being  my  duty  to  protect 
citizens  and  the  familes  of  your  fellow  soldiers,  it  is  also  my  duty  to  pro- 
tect your  honor  and  your  fair  names,  and  I  am  determined  at  any  cost  to 
accomplish  these  objects.  3d.  If  the  base  conduct  of  a  lew  straggling 
robbers,  or  the  vile  tongue  of  slander  has  clouded  your  otherwise  bright 
fame,  a  course  of  the  most  scrupulous  and  irreproachable  conduct  on 
your  part  can  alone  relieve  you.  I,  therefore,  appeal  to  every  one  of 
my  officers  and  soldiers,  to  aid  to  their  utmost  ability  in  bringing  all 
offenders  to  justice.  4th.  Citizens  must  also  assist  in  this  work.  If 
their  property  is  trespassed  upon  or  their  horses  stolen,  they  must  follow 
the  culprit  until  means  are  acquired  to  secure  his  arrest,  either  by  pro- 
caring  aid  or  by  tracing  him  to  the  camp.     There  complaint  should  be 


3 

promptly  made  to  his  commanding  officer.  If  full  redress  is  not  given, 
appeal  should  be  made  to  the  next  commander,  and  so  on  until  justice  is 
obtained. 

VII.  1st.  By  rigidly  enforcing  this  and  other  orders  from  these  Head 
Quarters  on  the  subject  of  discipline  and  depredations,  division  comman- 
ders can  render  the  discipline  of  their  commands  perfect.  A  General 
Court  Martial  is  established  in  each  div'sion,  and  ample  means  furnished 
to  relieve  the  army  of  disqualified  and  neglectful  officers.  Their  places 
can  be  supplied  by. meritorious  men,  whom  the  law  admits  of  being 
appointed  fur  valor  and  skill.  2d.  In  holding  division  cmmanders  strict- 
ly responsible  for  the  conduct  of  their  commands,  the  corps  commanders 
will  lend  them  every  aid  by  assuming  the  responsibility  of  ordering  any 
punishment  which  circumstances  may  demand.  Division  will  hold  bri- 
gade commanders  strictly  responsible.  Brigade  must  look  to  regimental 
commanders,  and  they  must  hold  captains  to  strict  account  for  the  con- 
duct of  their  men.  For  every  breach  of  discipline  some  one  must  be 
punished.  If  the  officers  whose  duty  it  is  to  punish  the  offender  neg- 
lects that  duty,  his  immediate  commander  must  take  action  against  him. 
Without  certain  and  prompt  punishment  for  every  offence  or  neglect, 
proper  discipline  cannot  be  maintained. 

VIII.  The  spirit  of  this  order  will  be  carried  out  in  all  commands 
less  than  a  division. 

J.  WHEELER, 

Major  General. 


ML 


Hollinger  Corp. 
PH  8.5 


